In the heat, my dogs will sometimes use dogloos.

In the rain & cold, no matter how hard the rain, they'd rather lie down next to the dog house than IN it.

Some dogs are just weird.

David,

Show me the code word for word for where I live, would you?

My dog's plastic crate has three sides, a roof, and a floor. She can stand up in it, turn around, and lie down in it. It has a removable door, a raised lip on the bottom, is vented on every side, and has a slant top design. It costs as much as the "houses" mentioned earlier. For all intensive purposes, it is a dog house--with a removable, hinged, lockable door.

She also doesn't sleep outside. I also don't leave her out when I'm at work. She's crated when I leave without her.

I own three crates, not one, for her. I waited nearly five years to get her. I've been deliberate and disciplined in every decision I've made regarding her. I ask for advice or opinions here because I trust the experiences that others have had before me. Some people might call that wisdom. I'm not "saving a buck".

If you don't know what my local ordinance is then why would you quote Texas State Penal Code? I think your comments are vacuous, at best.

I'll withold any more comments, for now.

I pretty closely quoted what the Texas Penal code says. You must provide necessary shelter. So what does the state define as shelter for a dog that lives outside? I dont know I didnt read it. I also dont know your county or city ordinances. I just did a quick look at Texas state law. Knowing your local ordinance would be your responsibility. I know the my state laws and the county ordinces and the all the seperate city ordinances of the county because I am a Deputy that works in the Animal Control division.I know what our definition of shelter is for a domestic pets. You asked for opinions and advice. I gave it to you. Im sorry if you dont like what the law says but I thought you might like to know because dog owners are bound to law such as rabies control, licensing and animal care. According to most definitions of shelter crates are not shelter because they are not resistant to wind and rain because of the slats/ vents in the sides of them. Also carports and covered porches are not considered ahelter either.As far as the dog living outside. I told you what qualifies as living out side. That is to include basically just not being home while the dog is outside. If some one saw your dog standing in the rain, and no doghouse they may very well file a complaint on you. People do it all the time. So at any rate my advice is get your dog a dog house.

Steve Patrick asked that I post a pic of his kennel setup:
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n129/metalasi/Steves%20dog%20Fred/Steveskennelsetup.jpg

Wow. Looks Rugged.

I like how Ed has IVY growing on his. I want to do that to my pups kennel, too.

David,

Here's what my local code says:

"(2) fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;"

There is no definition...as you should know as a deputy working in animal control, the definitions are left vague on purpose.

I think you'd be hard pressed to have a case against me because I don't have a "dog house" for my inside dog.

My question didn't have anything to do with compliance to your definition of "shelter" and it still doesn't.

And just to prove my point, if you came to my house in the middle of the night because someone reported that my dog was being abused and was outside in the cold and found a dog house in the backyard with no dog in it and her sleeping in the middle of the yard with snow covering her, I'm pretty sure that seeing that she's licensed with the county, has her rabies tags, has her ID tags, and was greeting you with a toy and ready to play you'd be back in your car muttering to yourself about what a waste of time that was and what a great looking dog she is.

good grief

Mike, where do you live? I need to make a report.

My GSDs are not big fans of "shelter." I have rushed home from work in the middle of the day b/c the weather got bad, only to find my little one, Xander, lying in a mud puddle, happy as can be. Double-coated dogs tend to not be too sensitive to such trivia as rain and cold. I have a huge, expensive, solid wood, shingled roof house that they only use as a hiding place for things they have stolen from me. I will try to get Xander to stay in his house and he gives me a look equivalent to "House? I don't need no steenking house," in his best accent. Which is awful, since he's Czech.

 Quote: jenni williams

I will try to get Xander to stay in his house and he gives me a look equivalent to "House? I don't need no steenking house," in his best accent. Which is awful, since he's Czech.

Too funny! Now I have that image stuck in my head! I can even hear the accent....

Ooh Jenni, are you going to cuff me, too? lol...You might need to take me in front of The Hague for my crimes against Brenna. I could use a good Czech lawyer...maybe Zander could represent me? Does he have a license? ;P

Sometimes I read these posts and I'm flabbergasted at how one thing becomes another.

ok, letting go now